 Dissension among New England Abolitionists and pretended Abolitionists
was fierce in the 1830s, especially in Massachusetts—sometimes politely
nasty, and often a definite source of social and economic distress among the
earnest bourgeoisie. In thisvigorous,
no-holds-barred book, Chapman expounds
on the problems of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, The Liberator newspaper,
women’s rights and the role of women in the abolition movement, and the
walking lightning rod known as William Lloyd Garrison.

As
the Society, the newspaper, and Garrison and his ardent disciples became
more and more demanding and “intrusive,” there was the inevitable
backlash. Women who used the social custom of the morning call to bring petitions
with them were ostracized; businessmen whose office walls were hung with
engravings of chained, kneeling, and imploring slaves saw less and less business
walk in through their doors; and ministers who preached for abolition and
called for their flocks to be active in the cause were shunned by their fellow
religious and were quietly stabbed in the back by the same.

Moreover, in 1832 Chapman and 12 other women had founded the Boston Female
Anti-Slavery Society, and with the encouragement of Garrison sought active
roles in the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society: Those attempts to place
women in the vanguard were almost certainly a principal cause for the discord
and rancor that Chapman chronicles. And there can be little if any doubt
that when the whole simmering cauldron brimmed over in 1839 and precipitated
this publication, the last degrees of heat were supplied by—the election
of Chapman, Lucretia Mott, and Lydia Maria Child to the executive committee
of the Massachusetts Society!

Chapman’s
account of the struggle for the hearts and consciences of the abolitionists
and general middle class of New England is a classic account that names names,
pulls no punches, and does not care for the cautious word. It was reprinted
in 1969 by the Negro Universities Press and is widely available in that form. This
first, original edition is scarce in commerce.

Binding: We have traced
this book as appearing in wrappers; in plain brown cloth with “Right
and Wrong” in gilt sans serif letters on the front cover; and
in the same plain brown cloth similarly gilt-titled on the front cover with,
additionally, a blind-embossed plaque of a chained and kneeling black slave
(above the motto “Oh! Deliver Me.”) on the back cover. This
copy is of the plaque-bearing variant.

Provenance: This
copy bears the ownership inscription of Caroline H. Dall (1822–1912)
on its front free endpaper. Dall,
a noted feminist, abolitionist, reforming Transcendentalist author and lecturer,
knew Chapman personally and admired her greatly. As
can be seen in the image below, at right: Following her signature is the
sentiment, “A
rare and valuable book which should be carefully kept. 1883.”

While Right
and Wrong is rightly recognized as an important black Americanum, its
parallel importance for women’s rights is often overlooked. Yet,
that importance cannot be overstated, and the provenance of this copy concretely
expresses the link.

 Checklist of American imprints 54889; Library Company, Afro-Americana,
2201. On Chapman, see: McHenry, Famous American Women, pp. 68–69,
and DAB, IV, 19. On Dall, see: McHenry, Famous American Women, p.
91, and DAB, V, 35. 19th-century brown cloth with blind-embossed plaque on
rear cover as above. Small nick from top of spine; front joint (outside)
starting. Volume
in very good condition, clean in its neat firm binding with the interesting
embossed plaque in strong relief. Now in a quarter calf
clamshell case.

Single-click
any image where the hand appears on
mouse-over, for an enlargement.